Down(ward Facing Dog) with Inflammation

If you are like me, you may have suffered from inflammation at one time or another. Chronic inflammation in your body can manifest itself in allergies and hay fever, arthritis, and even cancer. I was heartened to read this week that yoga can help the body battle inflammation. One more reason to love yoga!

Stress can be a key trigger for inflammation, and regular yoga practice helps battle stress. Three poses that were recommended to me to help with stress were alternate nostril breathing, downward facing dog, and supported bridge pose.

Alternate nostril breathing (where you hold your right nostril closed, breathe in through your left, hold for a beat, breathe out through your right with your left nostril held closed, then reverse back and forth, breathing in one and out the other, in the other and out the one) helps the body relax. I try to do it for five minutes, then sit quietly and breathe normally for a few moments more. I feel more balanced when I’m done, and can feel my body quieting down.

Downward facing dog and supported bridge are inversions that help the body release, flexing the spine, opening the shoulders, and (in bridge) elevating the heart and chest. For supported bridge, I used a foam block under my sacrum at the highest level I can tolerate, but a bolster or rolled blanked will work as well.

Stress is our body’s way of saying slow down, take care of yourself. Yoga is like a big warm hug to an overwrought system. Try it the next time you feel like your hair is on fire.

What’s in My Cosmetic Bag Today?

When Avon calls, I definitely answer the door. They have a great range of products at amazingly reasonable prices, such as their bubble baths and skin care.

But my favorite Avon product at this moment is their Advance Techniques Daily Shine Mirror Shine Spray ($8). A few small spritzes on my hair add a great glow and shine without too much weight. And because the formulation isn’t greasy, I can use it (in moderation) every day should I so desire. I love the way my hair looks with it, and I’ve noticed I don’t need hairspray because it helps me manage fly-away hair as well.

If your hair is looking a bit lack-luster, or you just want a boost in shininess, give it a try. It’s a staple in my cosmetic bag.

Tips for Self Tanners

It’s that time of year–that blinding white light? It’s my bare legs. Man, are they white. I could light up a room, that’s how pale they are. I won’t tan naturally because I know better now–the dangers of skin cancer are just too high. And I don’t like paying the money to stand in a booth and have tanner applied to me. So, self tanners are the way to go.

But there are pitfalls to doing it myself, which I have learned over the years–orange hands, streaky areas, places where the tanner never quite made it. Then I read Good Housekeeping’s “7 Years Younger,” and its great chapter on using self tanners, and I feel I can face it again. Here is a summary of what I thought of as their key tips to make this process as goof-free as possible:

• Prepare your skin by waxing/removing hair and exfoliating 24 hours in advance. You need to give follicles time to close after being opened through waxing/threading/other methods of hair removal, and give skin time to calm down.
• At the same time, you want to test your tanner on an unobtrusive area of your body, such as under your arm, to make sure you won’t have a reaction to the formula. If you do, you have time to get another product and re-test.
• Do not use deodorants, perfumes, body lotions, or any other add-on that might react with the self tanner. Go bare, baby.
• If you are new to this, start with a light formula until you get the process down pat.
• Experts recommend starting at your thighs and rubbing down your legs, proceeding to your torso, and followed by your arms (shoulders down to elbows and wrists), thinning out as you go.
• Spray hard to reach spots, especially your feet where you tend to pile on the smoothed-down product.
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you are done and then apply the tanner. GH suggests curling your hands into claws so that the product won’t pool in knuckle creases. AVOID YOUR PALMS–YOUR PALMS DON’T TAN!
• Keeping your skin hydrated will prolong your tan. A self-tan lasts between 4 and 10 days, so keep swimming and showers to a minimum time.

I’m looking forward to goof-free tanning this summer–thank you, Good Housekeeping!

 

What’s In My Cosmetic Bag Today?

A friend of mine once said, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, then everything will look like a nail.” Well, if you don’t have the right make-up brushes, it really doesn’t matter how fabulous your cosmetics are–you’ll have difficulty applying them, and subsequently looking fabulous in them.

That’s why I swear by my Bobbie Brown make-up brushes. The Bronzer Brush is fabulous for applying not just bronzer but a light dusting of powder to even out skin tone. The Blush brush has a curved tip so you can apply just to the area you want. The Eyebrow Brush, a personal favorite of mine, is stiffer bristled and angled so I can swoosh on a perfect arc with Bobbie’s eye shadow (no pencils for me). And the Lip Brush is small and pointed to make a cupid’s bow or fill in a thin upper lip.

These brushes aren’t cheap, but are well worth the investment. I’ve had mine for over 10 years, and with a weekly wash and air dry, they hold up like champs. And yes, you should wash your brushes every week or they become nasty repositories for germs and bacteria, which you so do not want on your face. So, wash those bad boys every week at night before you go to bed, gently squeeze them out, and let them air dry overnight–and you’ll be good to go the next day.

Love Me, Love My Beauty Secrets

Cosmetics (Photo credit: My Sight, as You See.)

We all have certain things we swear by, but only share with our closest friends. Because, after all, if we all have the same beauty secrets, no one has an edge. And we all want an edge–don’t we?

But I have found I love certain products so much that I just have to share their goodness with everyone–or the few folks who don’t know about them. Because that is the kind of person I am (smiley faces and flowers galore).

Seriously, if we don’t share what we know, then what is the good of having a blog. So, let me share with you two of my favorite beauty products, go-to items when I want to look as fabulous as I can.

The first is Benefit’s High Beam. This “luminescent complexion enhancer” is the absolute last word on bright skin tone and a beautiful glow. You can dot and blend it over your makeup to make your best features stand out, and to shore up other not-so-faboo features. On your cheeks, it can highlight killer cheek bones. Under your brows, it can open your eyes. And on your Cupid’s bow, it can highlight your gorgeous bee-sting pout. It lights up your skin and enhances what you want enhanced. It makes my tired eyes look brighter, and can also conceal under-eye circles.  It’s a great multitasker in a bottle.

The second is Michael Kors Leg Shine–Classic. I love everything about Michael, but this product stands out.  It gives my legs a subtle glow that approximates a light tan, and the scent is to die for. Rub it down the center of your shins, and your legs will look thinner. It also provides a bit of moisture and shine to legs, and my legs need that–how about yours?

What’s in My Cosmetic Bag Today?

My latest find is Make Up For Ever’s Pro-finish Multi-use Powder Foundation–I love this stuff! It goes on wet or dry, and comes in 25 shades so it’s a relative snap to match your skin color. With an oily T-zone, I use it dry but I did use it both ways, and both worked.

Sephora gave me a sampler with four shades to try, which helped me narrow it down to one. I opted for Pink Porcelain, but the other shades worked, too. I love it to do touch-ups after a day in the office when I’m on my way out at night. A new winner in the make-up bag!

Project Runway Finale: Highway Robbery

She was robbed! Patricia was robbed. There, I can do this recap in three sentences. But I won’t. Because I have several more things to say.

We start this episode with our three survivors back at their penthouse apartment, exhausted but content to be showing at Mercedes-Benz fashion week. They don’t have long to enjoy the glow, because the following day it’s back to Parsons and the mountains of work that face each of them. Michelle, Patricia, and Stanley all received critiques that will involve making some changes if they are to win this puppy. They are all fussing with their pieces when Tim comes in and announces they are going to Mood! Whoopee!

Cue up the mad dash among the fabric bolts, and we’re back at Parsons before you can say give me a yard of that spangled chiffon. Tim has one more surprise for them–and ushers in their family members to wish them luck. The cutest scene is Patricia twisting with her children. How cool that your teenage children are so happy to see you, and willing to humiliate themselves on TV to share your happiness.

Zip! We’re at the auditorium for Mercedes-Benz fashion week! Tim is back stage looking terrified as he realizes the mountain of work Stanley still has to do, and it is mere minutes until his models will have to stalk down the runway. “This has never happened in the history of Project Runway,” he declares to the camera, a sheen of perspiration on his forehead.

Heidi comes out on the runway, and she is rocking this great multi-colored look and a bright mouth. She looks fabulous! And there’s MICHAEL! I’m so excited I tear up at seeing him. Michael, I have missed you so much this season!

Michelle’s collection goes first, and it is a lovely, unique set of pieces. They are cohesive, and the lone wolf theme is effectively carried through. But lone wolf, in a season of teams? Really? Well, she certainly has acted that way the entire time, and it proves to serve her well. Yes, yes, I know she’s lost her pack. But she was constantly carping and complaining about her pack and their sub-par performance, how they were bringing her down. I could see a real wolf pack voting her out. But I love so many of her pieces. I could see her as the winner…

…except for Patricia’s collection. It is original, it is unique, it is AMERICAN. I’ve never seen anything like it. She has designed her textiles, and branded these clothes with her unique viewpoint. I think this collection blows the other two out of the water. I’m thinking, “She’s the winner,” but I have not factored in the Nina influence or the judge’s fear of being too far out there.

Stanley’s collection is very haphazard. I don’t see a unifying theme, the pieces look very old, and some of them look quite un- or under-finished. He’s clearly out.

Back at Parsons, the judges critique each collection. And here is why I love Michael Kors–this is the first he has seen of these clothes, but he cuts right to the heart of the design aesthetic of each finalist. And that’s why I’m going to relate his comments, since we’ve heard from the other judges before. He tells all of them that he saw distinct points of view in each collection. He tells Michelle that her fabric combinations are interesting and disparate, but she managed to meld them together. I laughed when he said her gown moved like a cardboard box, but once again, he’s making a critical point–don’t think you need to have a long gown for your final look. It just needs to be spectacular and memorable.

He tells Patricia that her artistry is spectacular, and her pieces were fabulous. A few were out there in artsy-craftsy land (my words, not his), but she by and large took the craftiness and translated it into unique pieces. (Nina has a real sour-puss face the whole time the others are praising Patricia).

Stanley’s collection looked old–the gown, according to MK, is “Betty White on Dancing with the Stars.” I can tell immediately that this is a horse race between Michelle and Patricia.

And Michelle wins, because her collection can be translated commercially. The judges play it safe, Nina leading the charge. But Patricia’s collection is no more out there than a lot of what came down the runways in London, Paris, and Milan and was lauded as fresh, the next thing, the designer to watch. And it’s a uniquely American collection, from a native American. Oh, well, I’m greatly disappointed. Michelle’s collection is fun and young, but it’s nothing we’ve seen before. A lot of Patricia’s collection I’ve not seen the likes of before, and so much of what she did was crafted by her own hands. Oh, well, dad.

That’s a wrap on the season. I actually did enjoy this team’s edition, unlike many others. I thought it brought a new dynamic to the designs, and you could see how others’ input helped a lot of the designers–well, those who chose to take the input.

I won’t be recapping the reunion show because I can predict a lot of carping, backstabbing, and tears, and who needs more of that in their life? Ciao, bellas!

Project Runway, Ep. 13: There’s No Place Like Home

OK, I’m verklempt this week because my boyfriend Daniel did not make it to Fashion Week. Yes, his collection was underwhelming, but so was Stanley’s. But I’m getting ahead of myself. (Man up, girl. You can do this!)

Our Final Four (FF) are sent home to create their collections for Fashion Week. This is always my favorite part of Project Runway: getting to see the designers on their home turf. It helps me to understand Michelle’s design aesthetic to see her in Portland, Oregon. Or to see Stanley in LA, or Patricia in Taos, or Daniel in Austin. Their homes give context to their work.

Tim is such a lovely, respectful guest, interested in what the designers have to share and forthcoming with advice on what they need to do with their collections. And let me say that I would love to have a studio like Patricia’s–but I would settle for Stanley’s or Michelle’s. However, I’ll skip Daniel’s attic–it looked like the type of sad little garret where you expect Oliver Twist to pop out.

Back in New York, it’s cute to see the FF happy to see each other again–boy, those four months just flew by! The designers get helpers once more–and Layana is pregnant! Poor Tu gets dumped, now that Layana is available.

Stanley’s collection is so unfinished it is frightening. Michelle’s eyes are as big as saucers as she takes in the big swaths of fabric where his garments should be. I predict this will come back to bite him (ok, I saw the previews). Patricia has a lot of work to do as well. I’m not feeling the love for what I see of Daniel’s collection (sniff, sniff). Michelle has some fitting problems, telling the camera that apparently she has made a lot of teeny little pants.

On the runway, however, Michelle’s collection is modern, radical, and cutting edge. Her lone wolf theme is carried cohesively throughout the pieces she shows. I love the hooks on the coat that let you configure your bags in various ways, and the quilting of the pieces. And I love the fact that she used sweet Joe Segal, the designer eliminated eons ago, to do the knitwear for her design. Now, there’s teamwork!

Patricia’s collection is original, complex, and a bit of a mess. She needs to edit her work, and find some cohesive thread.

Daniel is all over the place–he just has too many inspirations. Nina does not see color or shape (ruh-roh), and Heidi is underwhelmed.

Stanley’s collection is meticulously sewn, but old-looking and blah.

Zac Posen gives thoughtful and useful advice to each designer. I love the terms he comes up with–”chic banal” for Stanley, and “steam punk” for Michelle.

In the end, Daniel is auf’ed. But he is just the best, right to the end. He’s the one comforting the other designers (Michelle is CRYING!), and he tells them he wishes he could be there to help them. He leaves us with “It’s never too late to do anything. Just pick yourself up and move forward.” You are a class act, Daniel, and I hope we do hear more from you.

Next week—OMG!!!!! Michael Kors is back!!!!!! There is a God!

 

What’s in My Cosmetic Bag Today?

Because my hair is fine and can be limp, I need hairspray to help me hold whatever body I can urge into my hair with a cut and blow dryer. But I hate that helmet-head feel that many hairsprays can give, or the look that I could withhold gale-force winds.

That’s why I have fallen in love with Rusk’s W8LESS PLUS spray. As the name implies, it’s light, but it does give me a fair amount of hold. And since I only wash my hair every four or five days, I don’t notice a build-up of product. Plus, it has a lovely scent. AND W8LESS PLUS comes in a handy-dandy travel size. It’s a winner for me, and a must have in my cosmetic bag.

What’s In My Cosmetic Bag Today?

On days such as this when I’m cursed with a pimple along with a wrinkle (how does this happen? you’re killing me, face!), I’m so glad that I have Peter Thomas Roth’s Acne Spot and Area Treatment in my cosmetic bag. It’s my go-to product for breakouts, and it does the job with finesse and swiftness.

A dab smeared around the trouble area dries up the offending blemish in a day or two, without drying out my skin. It’s odorless and blends in with my skin, and does not show obtrusively when I use BB cream or powder over it. I carry it with me in my purse just in case–it is indispensable when my skin is acting up. I wouldn’t be without it.